Michele Barbato of the University of California, Davis, an Icon of Change in California

Icons of Change International Awards 2025

Michele Barbato, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, F.EMI, F.ASCE
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis

SDG Focus Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Catalyst for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Futures

In an era where the climate crisis challenges the very foundations of human settlement and infrastructure, Dr. Michele Barbato has emerged as a pioneering force—bridging scientific innovation, engineering excellence, and humanitarian vision to create structures and cities that can withstand, adapt to, and thrive in a changing world. His work is more than the application of civil engineering—it is a strategic reimagining of how communities can be built and sustained with safety, equity, and environmental stewardship at their core.

As Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis, Dr. Barbato also serves as Director of both the UC Davis Climate Adaptation Research Center and the CITRIS Climate Initiative, where his leadership informs global research agendas on climate resilience. With a career spanning continents, from Italy to the United States, he has earned a reputation for advancing performance-based methodologies that protect lives and livelihoods from multihazard threats—whether earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, or the cascading impacts of climate change.

Dr. Barbato’s groundbreaking research in earthen construction technologies has redefined what is possible in sustainable and affordable housing. By leveraging locally available materials and advanced engineering principles, he has provided a blueprint for building safe, low-carbon homes in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions—aligning directly with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. His contributions to multihazard engineering, structural reliability, and lifecycle cost optimization have not only influenced policy and practice but have also inspired a new generation of engineers to place resilience and sustainability at the forefront of design.

With over 200 peer-reviewed publications, competitive research funding exceeding $7 million, and accolades such as the ASCE Moisseiff Award, the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, and the UC Davis Chancellor’s Innovator of the Year Award, Dr. Barbato exemplifies the rare blend of scholarly excellence, practical innovation, and societal impact. His work is both technically rigorous and deeply human-centered—ensuring that solutions are not only scientifically sound but also culturally appropriate, economically viable, and environmentally responsible.

The Icons of Change International Award 2025 proudly honors Dr. Michele Barbato as a Catalyst for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Futures—recognizing his outstanding contributions to Sustainable Development Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. His vision demonstrates that the cities of tomorrow must be built not just to endure the challenges ahead, but to promote equitable opportunity, environmental harmony, and collective resilience for generations to come.

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